Winter Reviews

It's going to be a slow week on the crafting front with so much holiday goodness coming up. God knows I'm not going to use my days off on embarking on some seriously creative project (besides last minute present-making and potluck-dish-baking). So here I give you my reviews on some things that are keeping me happy this winter (all awesome)


"I like you: Hospitality under the Influence" by Amy Sedaris

Quite simply the most enjoyable and useful homemaking book you will ever pick up! A humourous advice book as well as dead useful when you need to prepare food for a funeral in hurry, Sedaris teaches the masses what she does best with dry wit and endless flair. A slightly disorganized layout and relatively limited variety of recipes doesn't put this at the top of the list for reference tomes, but there are some mighty solid gems and major crowd-pleasers among these recipes- and it's entertaining enough to curl up with and read cover to cover!
The recipes are simple as hell- which might bore the chef looking for a challenge- but that is also the beauty of it: completely foolproof instructions and the use of full-fat, no-holds-barred flavorful ingrediants guarantees each dish to be delicious. Sure, some of them seem like no-brainers ("Root Beer Float"? "Baked Chicken Wings"?) - but for those of us who never actually learned how to cook, this book is an invaluable tool that actually makes cooking, entertaining and homemaking fun.
(ps: the amazing Li'l Smokey cheeseball present at the Haliblogospheremagonianmas2008 party was a recipe from this book- 'nuff said)

knit. 1 magazine

Search results describe this as a "knitting magazine targeting hip 18-35 year-old knitters" and boy, does it succeed. Not too cutesy or country-style like many craft magazines, and not as complex as Vogue knitting (gorgeous, but impossible) Knit.1 hits just the right combination of challenging and simple patterns. Hip, trendy items like funky hats and stockings clash with classic cabled sweaters and lacy shawls in every issue. There are always a few fun, fast-knit items that can be tried right away (instant gratification knitting!) and of course, there is the major advantage of a new issue every season! Perfect for those of us with a short attention span, and valuable reference material to collect to build up your pattern hoard.

Asumiko Nakamura

Okay, this is a person- a mangaka (manga artist) and illustration artist to be exact. She has only been published in Japan thus far and has very little online presence so it is difficult to expose others to her work. Her manga published in Kera magazine (a crazy/weird teen subculture fashion magazine made available to me by parents living overseas that would otherwise be an extravagant import) is where I first saw her.
Just when I thought manga art couldn't impress me anymore, Asumiko comes along to raise the bar! Her style is very flat and consists of extremely delicate ink lines, with particular attention to eye-catching pattern and embellishment. She also has a strong eye for fashion and seems to relish elongated, exaggerated forms and of course- super concentrated detail. Everything about her drawing screams the perfect fashion illustration for me.

Bitch be Late wit the Update

Aw shit. Late update.

I will unabashedly blame this failing on the fact that my "permanent boyfriend" and I decided on a wedding date.... a few days after my last post, actually.

So- why almost a month late on the update?
Because I'm going to DIY this bitch. I've always known it- I'm gonna plan the whole muthafuckin' wedding.

the look on my face says it all.

Just typing it gives me the tremors. Just realising that I would be married in about a year's time effectively launched me through kubler-ross model of grieving/tragedy, progressing quickly through denial, anger, bargaining, depression and then finally acceptance-- in about a week. Every so often I have a quick relapse. However, letting someone else take charge would bother me more than having a mental breakdown from stress. Us creative control type freaks wouldn't have it any other way. It will definately be a learning experience in delegating tasks, however- if I don't, I will definately die.
Things to be DIY'ed include the invitations, favors, and um... basically all of the decorations. (Fabricville, Michael's and Loomis will be my second homes, the desktop printer and gluegun my very best friends.)
Things NOT to be attempted are my dress (NO- I never considered making my dress... although buying a plain one and then beading and embroidering the whole thing- yes), food, furniture and dishes.

I don't want to go on too much as it makes me icky to my stomach. That seems to bode ill for this celebratory union but really- it's a happy-and-excited-but-trying-not-to-obsess-too-much kind of sick. Don't worry about this being turned into some kind of wedding blog (sick and wrong)- I will treat it as any other DIY project- and update here about any significant progress.

Meanwhile, there is this hat.

A hat-and-scarf combination hat! Pure mastery of design in cold and windy/rainy Halifax weather.
The scarf secures the hat to your head and protects your ears, neck, and chest all at once! Not even a ski mask does that so well- and this is even much nicer and less detrimental to your hair. And of course, it can be used as a scarf only- the hat portion becoming a cute sort of hood at the back of your neck.
And yes, it is as insanely warm as it looks.

There is a distinctly middle-eastern look about it when it is worn all wrapped up- but those arabs really know what they're about when it comes to wind protection. Myself, I started out disliking the extremely textured pattern I knitted the hat with, until I realized its resemblance to the knot-like hairstyle depicted on certain enlightened prophets.

Ethnic crossovers abound- all for the sake of staying warm during Canadian winter.

Cutopia Aprons Launch!!

BEHOLD!! The first lineup of subversive-yet-adorable aprons from the producer of all that is cute and sinister: Cutopia!

Cutopia is my brand name for all my handcrafted things, by the way- based under my not-yet-existing company: Dotworks (insert copyright sign here). Branding your image is very, very important if you want to be any sort of professional- it's one of the first things you learn in art school. Although I couldn't be arsed to make brand labels with my logo at this point... anyway...
All aprons are made from cotton/poly broadcloth and lined with flannelette, unless otherwise stated. They are One-Size only with a fixed neck strap (adjustable upon request), have tie-backs (to be tied at the waist) and look great on many sizes of women and flamboyant men alike!
All are handmade and are therefore "imperfect"- each slightly different from one another!

By the way- these prices are for friends-only and only when referred to from my blog!
(click the pics to make them big)You will remember the Sweet Cherries apron from my first post- This is the first prototype that has also been machine-washed and dried (see Care Instructions)
Sweet and domestic, totally classic. Looks fantastic with a pair of panties and nothing else, for those of you who like to branch out with your functional wardrobe. (okay well- all of them do. Just so you know.)
ALSO. After the wash test, the cute cherries patch with its felt surface and puffy texture became very pilled. This style of patches probably won't be used again.
Price: (original prototype, slight flaws & prewashed condition) SOLD

If you love to beat out male competition in kitchen or just beat men in general, the Man's Ruin apron is for you. Featuring white polkadots-on-dark blue print and tattoo-like lettering on the patch-- men will see you and know their undoing.
Price: $35

So camp and fierce! Which is more vampy- the leopard print or the "Hot" patch that shows you know your way around the stovetop/oven combination?! Hot Mama is for bold ladies that aren't afraid to show it.
This was a fabric experiment, with printed polyester fabric and an all cotton twill base in dark brown. It turned out exceptionally sturdy.
Price: $35

So. Fucking. Punk. The badass patch tells everyone you are here to "fuck shit up", whether you bring chaos and break rules whenever you enter the kitchen or generally promote anarchy in your everyday life.
This apron was constructed with the flannel fabric on the outside, and the tartan is a loose weave and possibly prone to fraying. So the apron will look more worn and punkish the more you use it. The tartan fabric was horrendously difficult to deal with and will likely be only re-used ever again by special request.
Price: $35

I love this- it's like a nega-version of the sweet cherries apron. Blazin' Cherries uses the same racing-checkers pattern but couldn't be more different. If you are a speed demon at anything, this apron shows it in every aspect.
Price: $35

Care Instructions:

All aprons and their patches are machine washable (in cold water), dryable and ironable. They tend to get very wrinkled when tumble dried, and softer with every wash. Do not bleach, dry-clean or otherwise attempt to sterilize the fuck out of these aprons, you crazy bitch. The patches are reinforced with stitching- don't worry about them peeling off. However- as they are each unique and come from various sources I am unsure of their durability and construction. But they are pretty darn nice.

Most of the aprons are constructed with flannelette so know this: It appears smoothly brushed and soft when new, but pills after you wash it. Like a flannel shirt- it becomes a lot more textured. After much consideration, I decided that I didn't want to change my fabric choice. It's still lovely and soft and perfect weight for backing. With the exception of some aprons where the design permits it, it's only used for the lining anyway.

Customization:

Any of these aprons can be remade with your choice of patch (or none) Though-- many of them are found items or very limited availibility so no apron will be the same! The base color can be changed as well (extra cost beyond solid black or white). The patterns will have a limited run of 2-3 aprons each. I am happy to use any fabric that you supply to completely customize your apron (using this template).

Armwarmers and Apple Pie (plus Crocheting Rant)

So-- it would seem that I generally get around to posting once a week. Since I only feature completed projects, that's a pretty good crafting turnover!
But I'm a little late on this update. And I could be doing better. Much better.
This week I made a pair of a heavy white fleece version of winter bloomers, and knitted some armwarmers. But... wasn't I supposed to be learning to crochet?

I can't crochet. Screw crocheting!!!
As many hours I spent practising (LOTS) and as much as I want to make amigurumi dolls and granny square quilts and whatnot- I simply CANNOT DEAL with crocheting.
I decided to start out really simple. Just a little clutch bag, only one stitch to know. EPIC FAIL'D. It was unraveled after a few days and WAY too many hours.

First of all: one hook means twice as much work for one hand. The joints of my thumb and index finger were aching after only a few hours. Also- I've never been the best person when it comes to tension. The very notion of crocheting sucks because you have to pick up from previous stitches to make rows. When the stitches are even the slightest bit too tight you have to force and wiggle that hook through. Over and over and over again. When the stitches are on a needle, this is not nearly as much of a problem.
I taught myself how to knit from a book when I was lonely and depressed in T.O. There are really only two stitches you need to know: knit and purl- I was making hats within a week. (okay- a really huge, poorly guaged hat out of chenille yarn... but guess what- these slouchy oversized hats are WAY back in style now) Whereas in crocheting you have to know in which stitch and in what direction and in what order you are looping and hooking and poking. There's a whole slew of new abbreviations and weird-ass terminology that I hate because I'm old and set in my ways.
Another factor- once I am holding the needles and the stitches are cast on, I can knit a hat without looking. The stitches are very easy to feel for on the needle. Not so with crochet. You have to be looking at it ALL THE TIME to perform what I have previously described. And that. gets. boring.
Siiiiiiiiiiiigh. Of course- this is not the case with everybody. Reasons why I might have failed:
- too accustomed to knitting in general
- learning something new is hard
- I am a terribly ambitious crafter and I like to run before I can walk. I want to try the 3-d sculptural techniques before I even know the stitches. I want to jump right into a complicated project simply because I want to make it. This can backfire (and has- with lots and lots of thrown away materials and piles of dusty half-finished failures) but then again, trial and error is how I learn. It's frustrating, but I don't mind it as much as most.
Although I tried to do something simple and it was really difficult and frustrating, it may have simply not have been the right project for me. As an afterthought: I would probably be most adept at making lacy, open patterns with crochet as it kind of feels like beading (counting stitches) and the "drawing with yarn" quality could keep me interested.

Anyway, after such a failed crocheting attempt, I reconciled myself with knitting with these armwarmers (single-arm picture is most accurate to color)
Worked with a really lovely leaf-and-vine pattern and sexy form-fitting ribs for your arms. The green-flecked-with-yellow yarn turned out buttery soft after washing. Knitting, I love you!

They aren't really my style so I am selling these for $12- both arms aren't exactly the same :x
Wear them and think of spring!

Also- if you need yourself some fingerless gloves I can totally hook you up. Example:

I will be the first to say they are completely useless outside on a cold day but indoors when the heat isn't working and you're snuggled up in front of the computer? Absolutely indispensable typing gloves.

And only requiring a single skein of wool, you can afford to get the poshest yarn possible. (cashmere? alpaca? silk? such a good investment)

P.S: I really didn't mean to offend any hookers in the audience. I am genuinely jealous if you can crochet and you find it easy. I think it's the same as they say about cooking and baking- you are usually great at only one or the other; you get it or you don't. Those who are masters are both have mad skillz akin to ambidexterity.

Speaking of baking, I think I will include completed projects in this aspect as well, because I am a baking type, and I did make it myself...
Behold the sweetest, tastiest and most apple-y apple pie of all:

To prove my claim, I will now share with you my Mom's recipe- sacred to our family- for this absurdly simple and ridiculously easy to make pie.

frozen pie crust (if you're not picky-- you shouldn't be!)
4 cups sliced and peeled apples
1/2 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
cinnamon and nutmeg to taste

mix all together and pat evenly into pie crust. Bake in oven preheated to 450*F for 10 minutes. Turn to 350*F and bake for 40-45 minutes. Done.
Super fast, easy, and super-sweet with maximum apple taste. For if you are like me- when you want fresh apple pie RIGHT AWAY. Reheats well, too.

Anyway! Another post done. Up next: I am making a line of aprons- FOR REALS. All the materials are bought and this weekend should yield around 4 new aprons! All strictly one-of-a-kind and available for sale. Get first pick! Tell your friends!
Later.

Winter Bloomers

It's finally cold enough to break out those warm winter socks and tights- lots of layering, here I come!
I love love love socks of all kinds: knee-high, over-the-knee and thigh high especially- and wearing skirts and dresses to show them off!
But there is a specific problem one encounters when the temperature dips below zero- no matter how warm your socks and thick your tights (and don't enough think about pantyhose!) cold wind goes right up yer skirt and chills your poor panty-clad bottom! So how to solve this problem?
Not a pair of shorts. No pair of shorts- no matter how woolen or fleecy- can stop the cold air sneaking around your thighs.

No- the answer is bloomers... made of the softest and coziest fleece!
This one-hour project was a direct result of wanting to wear my big collection of wonderful thigh-highs, but suffering all day long of cold wind blowing up my skirt. Bloomers are the only answer because they are cut fuller than shorts (more fabric = more warmth) and they are gathered/elasticated at the leg opening so your bottom half remains contained and cozy. Thanks to the elastic, they can even be hitched up to a boyshort length or pulled down halfway to the knees.

As soon as I slipped these babies on I felt warmer instantly. Can it be that I can wear skirts with impunity now- no more chilled bum when I sit down, no crossing my knees and shivering when a breeze goes by? Even if they won't stop my legs turning blue, they'll make a difference.

Next I'll make a version with heavier weight fleece. Experiment with the trim. Maybe a version with a built-in garter belt on the inside?? I'm totally bringing bloomers BACK.

Li'l Red

Hello yo,

Just a little update to show off this morning's stitchin'... and my 2nd backup Halloween costume.
YES. I have a SECOND Halloween costume. Though I have worn Tim Burton's Catwoman for the last Halloween and a FanExpo, it is simply too good a costume to not wear as often as possible.

Surely you must agree. (see Fig.1)

...Also, due to extenuating circumstances (Europe trip) I had no time or money to make my ambitious $400+ costing 18th century French court gown.
Next year, okay.

Anyway- see Mattie model my own version of Li'l Red in da Hood. (once again, the lighting in my apartment and my camera make the lovely dark reds look orange)

I guiltily enjoy "adult" versions of fairytale costumes but the ones you can buy look so terrible- not because of design but poor fabric choices and horrendous construction. Better get a cute or sexy outfit that you would actually wear, and get creative with the accessories. It looks way better, and you will not see anyone else wearing the same costume (how many identical girly pirates did I see last year? argh.) It's not hard to find a non-costume circle skirt or a real bustier, guys.

Honestly, I tend to love craftsmenship over creativity when it comes to costumes. It's a time to raise the bar and kill 'em dead with your costume-making skillz. (okay- for just me, then) Then again, I really love the Halloween costumes that come together with items thrown together from your own closet! (yes, my wardrobe is that freaky!)
I just grabbed fabric and little metal fastener for the cape on Sunday and put it together today. Yay! A costume I can wear when I don't feel like struggling into a skin-tight, heat-and-moisture retaining vinyl catsuit! This is probably an outfit I would wear out any night of the week!

Vampire coat

Major success on the sewing front today as I have completed a project that has been 4 years in the planning (ever since Costume Studies, oh boy) and spanned nearly 5 months in the making- an 18th century-inspired winter coat that I have dubbed my "vampire coat", suitable for all my gothy needs in cold weather.
Time: Lots of hours, I suspect- spread out over several months. Aaaargh.

Material: The black wool was a fantastic find- on clearance at buy-one-get-two-metres-free. The lining is my pride and joy- beautiful, plush, fleece lined kasha lining. It is thick, silky soft and warm- one of the main reasons this jacket ended up becoming a winter coat.
Plastic buttons- at least until I get my hands on a vintage set.

Okay- so I cut a lot of corners and yet it still ended up taking a long time- but I didn't expect it to be any other way. Since making a coat is a rather new experience for me I opted to buy a pattern (Butterick 4665) and alter it... a lot.

Let's just say the intructions came in handy (as I don't have very concise notes on putting together a jacket- and will tend to forget steps or the order in which to do them) but I probably would have been better off drafting my own pattern.

Like most patterns, the sizing turned out to be way too big all over! The shoulders were the worst part- as I have narrow and sloping shoulders, I had to reshape the entire armhole (I still haven't got it quite right). The waist had to be taken in a full 8 inches for the fitted look that I wanted. The princess seams were reshapen, the sleeves and hem shortened and frockcoat vents, a center seam AND slit were added to the back. All that alteration time that could have been
spent on a custom-drafted coat- but oh wells- I didn't have a mannequin at the time of starting.

I had to bring this sucker in to my work at the tailor shop to press the thick, stubborn wool after hours with the big industrial steam iron.

The coat is very "relaxed" due to light interfacing and much warmer than it looks- though it is more a fall/mild winter jacket and will not stand up to the challenge when temperatures dip below zero.
To be honest, it was designed for the express purpose to be worn with impressive knee-high boots. It would also look best dressed up with many accessories.

Pictures simply don't do justice to this gorgeous lining- it is a deep, blood-red crimson but very shiny (it has no trace of orange)

Anyway! I looks like I won't debut the wearing of it for a couple of days as it is raining. Gross!

Coming up next: learning to crochet (bought a book and ever-ay-thing), Halloween MADNESS
omg omg omg halloween anyone???

Did you think I forgot about you?

You thought I made two posts and lost all interest, didn't you? Nawwww.
Not that I don't lose complete interest in what I am making at times (knitted yoga mat bag, "all-thumbs" mittens, and dozens of clothing alterations languish at the bottom of my projects pile)
Although it is better than the projects I complete and THEN lose interest in (lolita dresses and skirts, "knitted" chainmail, dozens of animal hats prototypes).
Perhaps my favorite kind of crafting forgetfulness is buying specific supplies and eventually forgetting what they were intended for. (sea-foam green yarn, 0.5m of beige charmeuse silk, 24 d-rings?)

But I must admit- I didn't complete any projects this week.... well, except for this pair of silver stockings.
Intended to be worn for a retro-themed masquerade party (thrown by Masq Halifax) I gave up my electro-slut idea to opt for a more elegant cocktail dress remniscent of swingin' ladies of the 50's.
I did need an iconic pearl necklace to complete my ensemble the night of the dance though. After trolling the mall and being appalled by the prices they were asking for a bunch of plastic beads string onto an elastic (like- $10 to $15) I went home, dug out my bead containers and rustled up a pearl necklace in about 50 beads and 20 minutes. Money-saving result!

Unfortunately, the party was geared mostly towards the 70's, 80's and 90's (err hello? The 90's aren't retro!) and I discovered that I'm not particularly fond of dancing to music of any of those eras, preferring instead the sweet sounds of current, modern-day synthesizer-produced music the likes of industrial metal and EBM.

But I digress from the aim of this blog... but who cares! It's my blog! So I might end up writing about my weekend every so often.

And so long as the subject is still about me, I can do this MEME!

The Rules:
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

As I was tagged by both La Belle Ecrivaine and The Dartmouth Soundsystem my participation is not only required, it is vital.

My factoids:

1) I have a severe addiction to magazines- I buy/receive via subscription about 5 a month. I think it is because I read so quickly and am in constant need of reading material and visual stimulation.

2) I like to get really close up to paintings and drawings (like, nose to the surface- close enough to set off alarms) to discern the marks that were used and every little subtlety of color, texture, pressure.... I can stare up-close at art like this for a really long time without getting bored.

3) I can't do crafts (i.e create anything that goes on this blog!) or even get motivated to begin unless I have music playing. Then I can usually go for hours without stopping.

4) Alcohol is poison to me- I don't like being drunk and don't think I will ever like the taste. As a result, I feel a bit of an outcast at most social events. It's a shame that I live in a town (nay, a society) with such a strong drinking culture.
That said, I love pot.

5) I recently got engaged to my boyfriend of 7 years and many people have asked me to take pictures of my ring. So here it is.

But the fact that accompanies it is this:
I am not a rings person (though I like and own lots of other jewelry). I generally never wear them because they feel cumbersome on my finger and becoming accustomed to wearing one is awkward when I am dependant on my hands. If I go about my daily life with a ring on, I will bump it on things constantly, fidget with it, take it off and forget to put it back on, etc.
Honestly, my preferred type of ring would be as thin as possible and have a completely smooth and unadorned surface. It would need to be a very good quality metal and be able to withstand being exposed to countless washings so I wouldn't have to bother removing it, ever. No bling for me, thanks.
So I love this ring to bits for what it represents, but you won't ever see it on me except for special occasions. P.S! Check out my pinky finger- it is crazy (the one on my right hand is worse) I think they were both broken at one point though X-rays reveal nothing)

6) That said, I can't stand the word "fiance/fiancee". I just hate the way the word sounds. I will continue introducing him as my boyfriend, thankyouverymuch. Or even better- "extra-special" or "totally exclusive boyfriend"

7) Annnnnd- I never wear makeup 90% of the time. Again, it is only worn for special occasions (mostly costumes~!) and only if I remember to apply it.

......I am not tagging anyone, therefore breaking the rules :( I don't know enough people in the blogsphere yet.
So- if any strangers happen across this- I invite you to do this meme!

Meet Mattie

Yaaaay-- I did it! I was on a roll this Thanksgiving weekend.
(see previous post for how the mannequin looked before)
It is easily accomplished in four steps of varying difficulty:
1) Prepare a basic block. Ok- not many people know how to do this. I would have put off the whole thing a lot longer had I not already had a pattern for my measurements drafted.
The only other way to can think of if you wanted to wrangle this on your own is to find a pre-existing shell top (non-stretch, with a full separating zipper- just because it makes things easier) a size too big to be fitted with.

2) Fit the block. No matter how well you have drafted it, it has to be majorly altered and it must fit skin-tight. This is impossible to do on your own and required me to scream for my mom's help. The darts are still not in the right place and the armholes are rather inaccurate (check out those ugly tucks I added to compensate for a thin neck and shoulders- haha) but I was sort of impatient, ok.

3) Resew the block and refit as much as necessary. Mark the neck, armholes and waist (at the very least) with contrast thread as reference points (and to prevent stretching)

4) Now the fun part- padding her up! It is actually a lot more time-consuming than one expects.
Amazingly, the mannequin was closer to my size than I thought, so it took less material than expected. First I covered it all with a thick layer of fleece so the surface would be pinnable (the skinny bitch needed lots of wraps around the waist and gut).
Then I zipped the block on and broke out the polyester batting (pillow filling) and padded out the squishy bits- boobs, gut, and love handles all. I even padded out the upper back a bit to better replicate my usual posture.
Padding out requires you to be terribly honest about your body- to be intimately familiar with your stores of fat. After wasting some time trying to pad out my hips (which pulled the block in the wrong directions) I had to admit that most of my curves come from my belly, and that I have very little in the way of a defined waist. Then the block began to lay smoothly.
I think I've got it right when I feel 'er up and it seems creepily familiar.

Finally, grab the measuring tape and compare your measurements. The mannequin is slightly bigger (maybe by 1/2") and a lot firmer (of course) so I would not trust it with anything painstakingly fitted but I can now fit most clothes with impunity, drape something crazy, let it hold a garment while I add buttons and other details, display and photograph outfits- the possibilities are endless!!

And unless you are happy with the all-purpose name "Judy" every custom-mannequin needs its own name. The more matronly and rhyme-y it sounds, the better. Mine at school was "Lucy" but "Mattie" short for Matilda popped into my head for this one. So Mattie it is.

Hello, new blog!

Let's keep this short, shall we?
This is my new blogging endeavour. Do not read too closely into the title- it is basically the first thing that popped into my head.
The purpose: To showcase completed projects of the textile variety, primarily but not limited to sewing and knitting. (occasional artwork, jewelry or any other type of craft work may be involved). It is mostly intended to be viewed by people I know IRL, but nice to be seen by new people. I am highly interested in helping people with their own projects or creating custom and commissioned work.
The goal: To challenge myself to complete more craft projects and pursue more craft varieties, and to keep record of my progress and/or skill development.

yeah- I'm not in school anymore but still feel a need to have an "artist's statement". Everything to follow need not be nearly as formal.

SO this is something I made today- an adorable girly apron that is just... adorable.
Time: 4 hours (if there is one thing you should know about me, it is that I'm a speed demon at sewing)
Materials & Cost: only about 1/2 m each of white broadcloth, white fleece and checkered cotton (maybe $15?), one cherries patch ($3)

Every girl needs one. They are both cute as pie and foxy as hell. But it's hard to buy one that fits your style and your needs. Simplicity won out in designing an apron to be cute-as-possible but also functional. As a result, this one is simple as hell to make. All it needs is the right amount and combination of pattern and ruffles.
The light fleece backing makes it possible to rest a hot dish against you as well as prevents the apron from riding up.
It is fully lined, something I rarely manage to do.

The only problem is that you have to bring yourself to get it dirty. We'll have to see how it survives the washing machine test.

COMING UP:

I got this mannequin (including the stand!) from the GAP at a clearance of their old store fixtures for $30!
When fate sends you a message like that (even when you are broke from a recent trip) you do not resist, especially when you've been considering dropping $300 on a dressmaker's form so you can drape a goddamn skirt.
I didn't really need the legs but they twist off at the thigh so in case I never have the need to display pants I can use 'em for blugeoning.

She is like a size 2, though. So my next project is padding this mannequin out to real-girl dimensions with pinnable fleece, polyster filling and cotton batting!
(at least it's better than a duct tape form...)